'ballet' originates from French, specifically the word 'ballet', where the Italian root 'ballare' (via 'ballo'/'balletto') meant 'to dance'.

'ballet' changed from the Italian 'balletto' and the French 'ballet' and eventually became the modern English word 'ballet'.

Initially, it meant 'dance' or 'little dance', but over time it evolved into its current meanings of 'a theatrical dance performance' and 'the art form of ballet'.